The company said as part of the partnership, Airbnb would have a ‘Soul of India‘ microsite that will showcase heritage stays across the country. Airbnb said it will also offer support to hosts in untapped tourist areas, assist them in promoting their homestays and build host capacity.
The company the ministry of tourism and Airbnb will work together on positioning India as a sought-after destination for cultural and heritage tourism, leveraging targeted domestic and international campaigns that showcase the distinctive heritage stays available throughout the country. Airbnb said under the year long partnership, it will endeavour to train hospitality micro-entrepreneurs in emerging destinations that are part of the ministry’s flagship scheme. The company said it will also share travel and homestay insights with the ministry of tourism for ‘informed’ responsible tourism policies and training requirements.
Tourism minister G. Kishan Reddy said Airbnb’s global reach will provide ‘enhanced’ visibility to India’s varied accommodation offerings and enable travellers an opportunity to experience the country’s rich heritage first-hand. “This partnership will contribute to the growth of inbound tourism, create economic opportunities for local communities and position India uniquely on the global tourism map,” he added.
Amanpreet Bajaj, general manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Airbnb, said the company is proud to partner with the ministry of tourism to ‘celebrate the Soul of India.’
“This MoU represents an important collaboration towards unlocking new economic and social opportunities through tourism in India while bolstering the Incredible India brand and bringing the richness of what India has to offer to even more international travellers,” he said. “Airbnb has consistently placed Hosts and their empowerment at its core and is pleased to see the G20 countries, led by India, sharing the same commitment to equipping communities with the adequate skills and fostering responsible tourism practices,” he added.
